U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



S F 



BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY— Bulletin- No. :>7. 

D. E. SALMON, D. V. M., Chief of Bureau. 



MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 



BY 



GEORGE M. ROMMEL, B^ S. A., 

EXPERT IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY, 




WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 

1 9 o a . * 




Class_ 

Book 3L_lk 



DULLtTIN INO. CS/, O. M. I. 



r kuin i isritut. 




U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
i 

BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY— Bulletin No. 37. 

D. E. SALMON, D. V. M., Chief of Bureau. 



- K 



MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 



BY 



GEORGE M. ROMMEL, B. S. A., 

EXPERT IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 




WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1902. 






0C l 2 9 ^06 

o. of a 









LETTER 01- TRANSMITTAL 



LT. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Bureau <>y Animal Industry, 
Washington, D. C, November <29, 1901. 
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a manuscript on 
"Market classes of horses," by Mr. George M. Rommel, expert in 
animal husbandry, of this Bureau. The information contained herein 
has been obtained largely by visits to the principal horse markets of 
the country, representative breeding establishments, and hunt flubs. 
It is believed to be the kind of information desired by the horse raisers, 
and I therefore recommend that the manuscript lie published as Bulle- 
tin No. 87 of this Bureau. ■ . 

Respectfully, D. K. Salmon, 

< %ief of B'i /■> 'in . 
Hon. James Wilson, 

S( ■■/■' tary. 



CONTEXTS. 



Introductory 9 

Primary considerations of the market 10 

Causes of the depression of the last decade 11 

Passing of the street-car horse 11 

The financial panic of I 893 11 

The bicycle and the electric carriage 11 

Causes < if present scarcity 12 

The decline of horse breeding 12 

The export trade 12 

Growth of the local demand 13 

General considerations of the market 14 

What constitutes a market class? 14 

When will a horse sell well? 14 

General essentials of a market horse 15 

Age 15 

Breeding and sex 15 

Color 15 

Condition 15 

Disposition and intelligence 16 

The market horse in detail 16 

Soundness 16 

Conformation 16 

1 Iorscs f< >r draft 17 

The draft horse 17 

The London vanner 19 

The Scotch, or Glasgow, vanner 19 

The express horse 19 

English types 20 

The omnibus horse 20 

The tram horse 21 

Artillery horses 21 

Horses for harness and saddle 21 

Drivers 23 

Roadsters 23 

The Standard-1 >red horse 24 

Coachers 24 

Coach horses 24 

Cobs 25 

Saddlers 26 

The saddle horse. . . ' 26 

Hunters 27 

The Thoroughbred 28 

Polo ponies 28 

Cavalry horses 29 



<> 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Minor classes. - , - 29 

General-purpose horses •- 30 

Southern horses - 30 

Plugs and scrubs 30 

The market for range horses 30 

Ponies - 31 

Saddlers and drivers 31 

Chunks 32 

I )einand - - 32 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Pago. 

A Prize-winning Cross-matched Draft Team . Frontispiece. 

Plate I. The Draft Type 16 

II. A Good Expresser 16 

III. A Busser 20 

I V. Roadsters 20 

V'. A Paii' < >f Coachers 24 

VI. A Pair of Ladies' Cobs 24 

VII. Prize-winning American Saddle Stallion "Goodwin" 24 

VIII. A Prize-winning Walk, Trot, and Canter Saddler 24 

IX. A Typical Hunter 28 

X. A good Type of Polo Pony 28 

XI. A Pair of Range-bred Coachers 30 



MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 



INTRODUCTORY 



The growth of the horse market during the past few years, its present 
healthy tone, and the apparent promise of a continuance of these con- 
ditions for at least a considerable time to come, warrant the bestowal 
of time and attention, not only upon the general demands of the mar- 
ket, but also upon rather detailed examinations of the various kinds of 
horses that are wanted. 

In this article the market classes are generally referred to in the 
colloquial terms of the market. This, it is thought, will, to a con- 
siderable extent, tend to prevent confusion and misunderstanding. 
Aside from casual references, no attempt is made specifically to discuss 
breeding or fitting for market. 

For convenience, all points of an anatomical nature are grouped 
under the head of "Conformation." Although according to the gener- 
ally accepted usage by the best authorities on score-card practice and 
live stock judging, this is a somewhat broad use of the term, it is not 
technically incorrect, and the advantages gained by the elimination of 
details that might prove wearisome will, it is believed, warrant such 
treatment. 

The classifications here considered are made as comprehensive as 
possible, embracing the views of dealers in all of the principal markets 
of the country. All the classes mentioned will not be found present 
in all markets, nor will all markets have exactly the same qualifica- 
tions, but these differences are so slight as to be practically unim- 
portant. 

Especially in regard to size and weight, it must be borne in mind 
that the figures given are not arbitrary. Not onby will they vary in 
different parts of the country with different markets, but dealers in 
the same market will differ in their ideas as to the exact sizes and 
weights of the various classes. With this, as with all points, the 
attempt has been made to strike an average — to obtain a consensus of 
opinion, as it were. It is always to be remembered that "doctors 
differ," both as to the s3 T mptoms of a patient when ill and as to his 
uormal appearance and proper conduct when well. 



10 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

Prices are seldom mentioned here, for the reason that they are sub- 
ject to continual fluctuations, and any that might be quoted would be 
serviceable only for the time of writing - . Such information is accurate 
only when gained from regular market publications, and is easily 
obtained. 

For specific information regarding contemporaneous market condi- 
tions there is no better or more easily approached source of informa- 
tion than the commission firms and dealers on the market, whose 
courteous assistance, it should be mentioned, has made this bulletin a 
possibility; and no better school for practical instruction can be 
imagined than an auction ring in one of our great horse markets on a 
sale day during the height of the season. 

PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS OF THE MARKET. 

A general observation of the horse markets in the United States 
reveals very different conditions from those existing in the early part 
of the last decade. Before going into details and ascertaining the 
kind of horse that the several demands on the market require, three 
facts present themselves for consideration: 

First. The market is seen to be on a much firmer basis than it was 
in the years from 1893 to 1897. Not only are prices much higher, 
but, generally speaking, the competition among bu} T ers is keen, and 
a serviceabiy sound, well-set-up horse of the right type, in good con- 
dition, can almost always be disposed of at a profit to the producer. 

Second. One is impressed with the pronounced scarcity of animals 
of the better grades, especially among light horses. Dealers can not 
satisfy the demands that come to them for high -class roadsters, coach 
horses, and saddlers. Even among " business horses 11 a higher price 
must often be paid than buyers desire, and it is said that this has even 
led some large establishments to send agents into the country to take 
advantage of the natural differences between farm and market prices. 
To a casual observer this is, perhaps, the most striking feature that 
presents itself. A change from a condition of overproduction and 
panic prices to one of scarcity and strong prices has come about within 
the course of less than five years. 

Third. Going more into the details of the market, we find a pretty 
well-defined system of classification. Buyers are on the market to 
get horses of a certain type, and thus have created "classes. 11 It is 
true that there are still thousands of horses every year that are shipped 
in simply to be gotten rid of — to sell for whatever they will bring; 
yet they are, as a rule, sold at a loss, and the only horses that sell at 
satisfactory prices are those that conform to the requirements that 
buyers demand. 

The reasons for these conditions are rather definitely understood, 
but a brief review of them here may not be out of place. 



MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 11 

CAUSES OF THE DEPRESSION OF THE LAST DECADE. 

Going back of the firmness of the present market, the causes of the 
low prices and overproduction that preceded it present themselves. 

PASSING OJ THE STREET-CAB HORSE. 

The recent depression of the horse business began about 1890. Up 
to that time immense numbers of animals were in demand for street- 
car, use. A fairly good animal was used, but there was no certain 
fixity of type. This trade absorbed very many horses that had always 
constituted the overwhelming' majority on the market — the small 
chunks and the general-purpose animals; and with the introduction of 
the cable car and, almost immediately after, the sweeping substitution 
of electric cars for horse cars in nearly all the large cities, these 
immense numbers of horses were thrown on the market without a 
demand for them, and the public was suddenly confronted with a con- 
dition of extreme overproduction. This, however, would only indi- 
rectly affect the higher grades. Extra individual horses maintained a 
fairly good scale of prices, and never at any time were they such a drug 
on the market as the commoner sorts. 

The severest test to the market horse was yet to come. Strongly 
organized conditions niight have tided over the effects of oversupply 
that the falling off of the demand for the street-car horse brought 
about, but the punishment was to be made all the more complete by 
the financial panic of L893. 

THE FINANCIAL PANIC OF 1893. 

The great panic that began in this year, but whose influence was felt 
most severely in the horse-producing sections two years later, was really 
the most effective cause for the breakdown in the horse market. The 
cheaper grades fell still lower and the higher classes began a descent in 
prices that forced men out of the business and had a most disastrous 
effect in creating a general distrust of the horse, not only on the part 
of men who were already engaged in his production, but also with pros- 
pective producers. All classes of stock were affected, hut it was the 
horse breeders who had the worst " scare," and it was freely predicted 
that horse raising would never again exist as a factor in live stock 
husbandry. 

THE BICYCLE AND THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGE. 

On the heels of the panic came the bicycle and in a few years the 
electric carriage followed. The bicycle influenced particularly the 
demand for cheap drivers — the inferior grades — and naturally intensi- 
fied the downfall of prices. However, though for a time the growing- 
use of the bicycle brought about a decline in the use of horses, its 
effect was hardly so severe as appeared; certainly it was not perma- 
nent. The use of the bicycle became most widespread among persons 



12 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

who could afford neither to purchase nor maintain a horse and among 
those who constitute a large part of the patronage of lively stables. 
If it has severely affected the horse in any capacity, it is by the 
inroads that liverymen claim it has made on their business. The most 
effective force for furthering the downfall in prices was simply fright, 
which brought about an unnecessary unloading of horses on a market 
already oversupplied. The results after the lapse of a few years, and 
the adjustment of the bicycle to its proper place as an important 
economic factor, with the return of the business to normal conditions, 
give ample reason for such opinions. 

Experience with automobiles has shown that in their present state of 
development their effect on the horse market is not serious. For busi- 
ness purposes they have not } T et been found to be entirely satisfactory, 
whereas the bicycle has become an invaluable adjunct of business. At 
present the "auto" is the least dangerous of all the deterring influences 
that operate against the horse market. 

CAUSES OF PRESENT SCARCITY. 

THE DECLINE OF HORSE BREEDING. 

The lack of confidence in the horse-breeding business which resulted 
from the depressing influences of the panic period undoubtedly brought 
about a decline in the breeding of the best grades. This can not be 
shown very accurately, for the Twelfth Census has reported the largest 
number of horses in the history of the country. By a careful study 
of the market conditions, however, it is evident that a more exacting 
market has found an inferior grade of horses from which to draw its 
supply. Misfits and culls are common enough, but they are not in 
demand. The scarcity that exists to-day is most apparent among the 
better grade of horses, and we are forced to the conclusion that these 
horses have rapidly decreased in numbers, while unsalable, inferior 
sorts have increased. The period of low prices caused men to stop 
breeding good horses, but fail ed to stop the progress of the scrubs. 

THE EXPORT TRADE. 

Almost coincident with the beginning of the panic of 1893, a new 
force began to operate to offset the disastrous conditions of the horse 
market, so that while this date marks the beginning of the severe 
downfall in prices, it also marks the beginning of their revival. 

The World's Fair year (1893) brought to the United States among its 
visitors those whose search for good horses for export, directed toward 
the great markets of the West, was to be the rejuvenating force that 
would once more place the horse in his rightful position as a revenue 
producer for the farm. The effect of the demand they created was 
an almost instant rise in prices of the better grades. Inferior sorts 
were only sympathetically affected, for it is not profitable to ship any- 



MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 13 

thing t>ut "toppy" animals. The growth of exports whs tremendous. 
From about 3,000 in L893, they have increased fifteen times over in 
seven years, and to all appearances the demand is by no means vet 
satisfied. 

The exporters entered the market with a call for horses of definite 
qualifications that have been rigidly adhered to. Hodgepodge methods 
would not and can not pay in supplying this market. 

The following statement of exports for the fiscal years 1890 to 1901, 
inclusive, shows an enormous growth: 1 

Export* of horses for the fiscal years 1890 to mm. 

1890 3, 501 

1891 3, 1 10 

1 892 3, 226 

1893 2, H67 

1894 5, 240 

1895 13, 9S4 

1896 25, 120 

1897 39, 532 

1898 51, 150 

1899 45, 77S 

1900 2 64, 722 

1001 82, 250 

The demand for so many animals for export very greatly increases 
competition, and, as it represents a much broader field for the market 
to cover than formerly, it is a second cause for the apparent scarcity 
of good marketable stock. This trade is the means by which surplus 
stock may be marketed and good prices maintained. If no more 
horses are produced than are needed for our own uses, it will generally 
happen that the export trade can not exist: for home buyers can 
nearly always pay better prices than exporters, and it is easily seen 
that, when the supply is short, a strong market ma} T exist independent 
of foreign demand. Information received within the last two months 
indicates that such conditions are largely present at this time. There 
is still a large demand from abroad, but prices have risen to such an 
extent that this trade has been very much diminished. 

GROWTH OF THE LOCAL DEMAND. 

With the growth of the export trade, the great increase in the 
demands of the local market has required horses in large numbers. 

1 From reports of Bureau of Statistics, Treasury Department. 

2 The shipments to Africa during the last two years are largely responsible for the 
great increase for the years 1900 and 1901. This is shown as follows: 

Fir fiscal year ended June 30, 1899 127 

For fiscal year ended June 30, 1900 10, 220 

For fiscal year ended June 30, 1901 37, 405 

These exports, developed under abnormal conditions, must not be looked upon as 
permanent. 



14 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

The increase of population, with a growing love of a good horse, and 
the wonderful growth of business, call for many more horses- than 
were needed for such purposes in the early "90's." The exacting 
nature which characterizes the foreign demand is also coming to be a 
notable feature of the home demand. 

This third cause — the local demand — combined with the export trade, 
makes a broader market. Undoubtedly, there are as many horses in 
the country now us ten years ago, though of an inferior quality, but 
relatively there is a great scarcity. 

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS OF THE MARKET. 

WHAT CONSTITUTES A MARKET CLASS? 

By a market class we mean the demand that exists for a horse of cer- 
tain characteristics definitely specified. We find the requirement that 
certain work shall be done in certain ways. This requires a horse of 
certain size, conformation, style, and action, and becomes more exacting 
as time goes on and the demand for such a horse increases. For this 
reason it is readily seen that classes on the market at one time may be 
cut off by reason of a change in the kind of work to be done or a 
change in the method of doing it; such, for instance, as the substi- 
tution of electricity for horses as a motive power for street railways. 
On the other hand, we have an illustration of the creation of new 
classes in the opening up of the English demand for the omnibus horse. 
The increasing demand for hunters for both the local and export trade 
and the brisk trade in polo ponies are also instances of such conditions. 
The kind of work and the manner in which it is to be done, therefore, 
develop the buyer's demands and thus create the market class. 

WHEN WILL A HORSE SELL WELL'.' 

The question naturally arises. When will a horse sell well? This is 
answered in describing the requirements of the various classes, which 
is done elsewhere in this bulletin. An animal will be in good demand 
when he meets the qualifications of a market class; the more clearly 
he does so the greater demand there will be for him and the higher 
will be his selling price; and a horse that goes into a class because his 
breeder was successful in breeding him for that class is much more 
likely to sell profitably than one that drops into a class as the result of 
an accident in breeding, handling, or fitting for the market. A breeder 
must determine for himself whether he can produce such a horse and 
dispose of him at a profit. That he will find a good demand for animals 
of the right type is quite certain. The individuality of the horse him- 
self, then, will indicate his class. 



MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 1 T) 

GENERAL ESSENTIALS OF A MARKET HORSE. 

Before taking up the details of the various classes it may be woll 
to consider the essentials that all classes must have — the requirements 
of a drafter as well as a coacher, or of a busser, as well as a cob. 
roadster, or saddler. 

AGE. 

Mature and well-broken horses are always the best sellers. A year 
or two spent in waiting for a horse to develop and educating him 
means an expenditure of time and money on the part of the pur- 
chaser which is. as a rule, undesirable, unless the horse is bought 
specifically for the purpose of fitting him for the finished market. 
The ideal age is five years, buyers usually purchasing animals ranging 
from five to eight. The classes vary somewhat in this respect. A 
horse intended for draft purposes may be marketed somewhat sooner 
than a harness horse or saddler. 

BREEDING AND SEX. 

The breed to which a horse belongs has very little influence on his 
selling price. All that is required is that he be a good individual of 
his class. A good horse always sells. Geldings are preferred some- 
what generally to mares. 

COLOR. 

Color does not figure so strongly as many would lead us to believe. 
Almost any color with excellence to back it will sell well, except white, 
flea-bitten gray. ** mealy " bay, or any other color that might be termed 
"washed out." Among drafters, no special color seems to have a 
preference; with harness horses and saddlers, bays, browns, and chesl 
nuts have first preference, but grays and blacks sell readily if "good." 
Well-matched teams, both in harness and draft classes, usually bring 
higher prices than if sold singly. 

condition. 

Condition is very often overlooked. It is absolutely essential that a 
horse be in good condition (well fed) to bring what he is really worth. 
This is particularly true of animals of the draft type. Whether it 
increases the animal's real value as a worker is not necessary to 
consider. The market demands high condition and pays those men 
well who cater to it. The great lack of condition is shown by the 
fact that many horses are sent in for sale only to be reshipped to the 
country for further feeding. Condition is almost as essential as fat 
on a steer, and its absence cuts from 25 to 50 percent from the selling 
price of a horse. The requirements of the market in this line are 
well worthy of notice. 



16 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



DISPOSITION AND INTELLIGENCE. 



Every class calls for an animal of intelligence and good disposition, 
willing to pull at a good rate or set a fast pace on the driveway, and 
capable and cool-headed in an emergency. The use of horses on 
crowded streets, often among large numbers of pedestrians, makes the 
latter particularly essential. The need of these qualifications is more 
important in some classes than in others. 

THE MARKET HORSE IX DETAIL. 

SOUNDNESS. 

The most important requirement of a market horse is " serviceable " 
soundness; that is, he must have no chronic disease that will unfit 
him for work of a general nature. He must be sound in wind and in 
limb, able to do a reasonable amount of work without undue fatigue 
or premature breakdowns. The majority of the horses sold from a 
great market go to the city trade and are compelled to do their work on 
hard, unyielding pavements, pulling heavy loads, or developing speed 
that is an even greater strain on the feet and legs. The average period 
of usefulness on city streets of a horse that was sound at the start is 
not more than five years, and it is manifestly evident that this time 
will be materially decreased if he begins this work in an unsound con- 
dition. Broken wind, sidebones, unsound hocks, and all the various 
other ills that a horse is heir to should be strenuously guarded against, 
as they greatly diminish his value. 

CONFORMATION. 

The next requirement, then, is a conformation that will enable an 
animal to do hard work with a minimum of wear, and give him the 
longest possible period of soundness. Special emphasis should be 
placed on the foot, which should be of medium size, with hard and 
dense horn, plenty of height to the heels and plenty of room between 
them, a large elastic frog, and a nicely hollowed sole — in short, a 
sound, durable foot. The pastern slopes well, corresponding to the 
slope of the shoulder. These conditions -with flat, fully developed 
muscles, strong, well-developed joints, strongly supported knees and 
hocks, clear, clean-cut tendons standing well out from the leg, and 
dense bone of a quantity sufficient to sustain the weight of the horse- 
will give a limb well calculated to withstand the wear and tear of a 
city pavement. 

Joining the fore and hind quarters we must look for a deep, fairly 
wide, and compact middle piece, with ample room for chest organs, 
and no pinching at the waist. Too much width should be avoided, as 
the action of the fore legs is almost sure to be bad with such a con- 
formation. A short back is generally sought, especially one which 



Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate I. 



22 H 

s a i 

?= m 

- - o 

C — 33 

= ; > 




Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate II. 




MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 17 

shows the least possible amount of space between the last fibs and the 
hips, giving a "close coupled" horse. This is almost as essential as a 
sound foot. A long, loose-ribbed, open-jointed, wasp-waisted animal 
is especially to be avoided. Such a conformation indicates lack of 
strength and forecasts an early breakdown. The shoulders should be 
deep and smooth, and hind quarters deeply muscled, wide, and well 
rounded. A sloping rump is always unsightly and detracts both from 
the use and value of the horse, for it stands to reason that such a con- 
formation can not furnish the same amount of muscle that a nicely 
rounded one can. The tail should be set high and smartly carried. 
Prominent shoulder points, hips, and buttocks are objectionable. 

The neck should be clearly outlined, of moderate length, and well 
muscled, with a good crest. The head should be clean-cut and of 
moderate length, with a rather small ear. much breadth and fullness 
of forehead, a large, clear, full, intelligent eye and a wide-open nos- 
tril, showing good lung power and consequent stamina. The mouth 
should be of good size, with sound teeth, and firm lips of medium 
thickness. 

Over all these must be an abundance of muscle laid on smoothly 
and nicely rounded. Quality is highly essential, and the mistake of 
growing size without it will be found expensive. A close connection 
between qualit}' and stamina is very clearly recognized by horsemen. 

HORSES FOR DRAFT. 

Any horse the purpose of which is to draw large loads, whether at 
the walk or trot, may be spoken of as a "horse for draft." Common 
usage has fixed the term "draft "on horses of specified weight and 
size, but there are other classes on the market whose conformation is 
what has come to be known as the "draft form," but which differ from 
the drafter in the matter of size and weight and the manner of per- 
forming their work. The drafter proper works always at a walk, 
while other classes of horses of draft type do their work mainly at 
the trot. As we go along, the close relationship between the different 
classes of this group should be noticed, for it is one of the most inter- 
esting and instructive features of the market. 

THE DRAFT HORSE. 

8izt and weight. — The weight that will characterize a horse as a 
drafter will be that above which he can not work at the trot without 
waste of effort and horseflesh and below which he can work more 
economically by hauling smaller loads at increased speed. This 
weight is pretty generally conceded to be 1,600 pounds in fair flesh. 
The height of a drafter will vary from 15.8 hands for the smaller sorts 
to 17.2 hands for horses of great weights. 

14460— No. 37—02 2 



18 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

The importance of weight in a drafter must not be overlooked. 
His purpose is solely that of heavy work, pulling great loads at the 
walk, and to fulfill this requirement most perfectly the first essential 
is weight, with, of course, proportional size. Without weight the 
immense loads that are to be hauled over our city streets could not be 
moved, and careful observation of the average prices has shown that, 
other things being equal, draft horseflesh is worth about $25 for every 
additional hundred pounds it can show over 1,000 pounds. 1 It is also 
essential that as much as possible of this weight be bone and muscle. 
Though many buyers unquestionably demand fat, and the truth is 
that a horse can not sell for a creditable price unless fat, the effective 
value of a horse as a worker should not be lost sight of. 

Conformation. — His conformation should enable the animal to make 
his weight as effective as possible, and, at the same time, assure a 
reasonably long period of usefulness. For this purpose, he must have 
a rather short, heavy neck and a shoulder sloping enough to take the 
collar well, but not so straight as to cause a **post leg" and bring 
about premature unsoundness. The back should be short, well mus- 
cled, and strongly coupled to the hind quarters, which should be nicely 
rounded, smooth, and plentifully supplied with muscle. Particular 
attention should be paid to the hock. The legs must be moderately 
short and have a supply of bone sufficient to support the weight and 
work of the animal, and, of course, must be sound. A short leg, with 
low-set knees and hocks, is one that will stand wear and tear and usually 
goes with a strong, closely coupled body. Head and neck should be 
proportionate to the size of the horse. The w r hole appearance should 
be massive. 

Action. — The action of the drafter is confined almost exclusively to 
the walk. For this reason the walk is of vital importance. Rapidity 
of step and length of stride enable him to cover considerable ground 
in the least possible time. Straightness, smoothness, regularity, and 
lack of friction enable him to do this with the least possible wear and 
injury to himself. The trot should possess all the merits of the walk. 

Demand. — Horses of this description are in strong demand for use in 
city streets of America and Europe. The great packing houses, brewing- 
companies, wholesale houses, and heavy dray and transfer companies 
buy this class of horse, differing slightly in weight, according to the 
purpose to which it is to be put or the desires of the purchaser. 

The rougher, plainer drafters are used for the coarser work of the 
cities, where the style of a team is of no particular importance to its 
owner. The lumber trade takes such a horse, often buying animals 
that are blemished or even unsound. 

The horse used for the American city trade is also in strong demand 
for the export trade to England and the Continent. 



1 Craig. Judging Live Stook, p. 34. 



MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 19 

THE LONDON VAXNER. 

The hor.se known in England as a van horse is very largely pur- 
chased on the American markets. He is simply a good, "toppy" 
American drafter, such as has already been described, weighing from 
1,600 to 1,800 pounds, and standing from 16 to 16.2 hands, with a 
strong, compact body on short, strong legs, with sound, health}^ feet. 
He is used to draw heavy drays, vans, etc. 

THE SCOTCH, OR GLASGOW, V ANXER. 

This horse is about the same as the English as to weight, though he 
may be lighter, and is more upstanding — that is, on longer legs. His 
work is the same as that of other classes of horses intended for moder- 
ately heavy city work. 

The horse that the Englishmen term a "cart horse" is extremely 
rare on the American market, and. when found, not always of the 
best quality. He should stand 16.2 to 17.2 hands, and weigh 2,000 
pounds and upward. 

THE EXPRESS HORSE. 

After the drafter, the remaining classes of the draft type are 
distinguished by the fact that their work is done almost exclusively at 
the trot. The first of these is the expresser. This is one of the best 
and highest classes on the market so far as individual excellence is 
concerned, and horses that till the requirements are always in demand 
at strong prices. An expresser is the best finished of all of the minor 
draft classes. 

Sizt and weight. — The size and weight vary somewhat, as a matter 
of course, but, as a general rule, an expresser stands from 15.2 to 16 
hands, and weighs from 1,250 to 1,500 pounds, or even more, the 
weight varying with the kind of work, wagon, etc., to which a horse 
is to be put. In some cases a team hitched to an express wagon will 
be seen showing all the characteristics of the true drafter, but, as a 
rule, these horses are for heavy dray work, and are not looked upon 
as representative expressers. 

Conformation. — The most pronounced type of expresser is a rather 
upstanding horse with strong, closely coupled body, considerable 
width of chest and hips, sound, clean limbs, and particularly sound, 
healthy feet. Special -stress is placed on the health, quality, and con- 
formation of the foot. Excepting the class following (the bussers) 
no class of draft type has to undergo the same amount of strain on 
the feet as the expresser. Hauling a loaded wagon at the trot soon 
tells on any but the best organs of locomotion. 

When an expresser is said to be upstanding the inference should 
not be that he is what could be denominated "leggy." This 
extreme is to be absolutely avoided, and as between the two. a horse 
with short legs is much preferable. Buyers demand a sensible 



20 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

medium. The most striking- features in the conformation of an 
expresser are (1) his high finish, with considerable weight— "a draft 
horse with coach finish," and (2) his rather upstanding appearance as 
compared with other draft classes. 

Action. — His work makes the trot of an expresser his most impor- 
tant gait. It should, above all things, be straight, frictionless, jus 
smooth as possible, and quick and regular. The walk must be simi- 
larly developed. 

Demand. — The express companies constitute the ruling factors in 
the trade for this class of horses, but other lines of business that 
require an extra good light-delivery horse find in the expresser such 
an animal as they desire. The lighter teams of the packing companies 
are heavy expressers, weighing from 1,450 to 1,550 pounds. 

Fire companies buy horses very much after this type, getting a some- 
what "toppy" animal that shows much intelligence and courage. 
Police horses come from somewhat similar sources. 

ENGLISH TYPES. 

Much is heard of English " light vanners " and " parcel carters." 
These are simply the English forms of what we call expressers, 
changed somewhat to conform to English requirements — that is, with 
legs as short as possible. The two names are used for practically the 
same horse. 

THE OMNIBUS HORSE. 

Size and weight. — A typical busser stands from 15.1 to 15.3 hands, 
and weighs from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds. 

Conformation. — In form he is a compact, rugged little horse with 
all the characteristics of the true draft type, set on short, strong legs, 
with ample bone, more or less feather, and sound feet. He should 
carry a fairly high head and show some style. 

Action. — The work of this class is performed almost wholly at the 
trot, and, accordingly, we will look for a horse that is a "straight 
line mover "■ — that is, straight and true in movement. He should have 
plenty of activity, with a moderately attractive action, but especially 
with a trot that is quick, straight, elastic, and smooth — a true, fric- 
tionless gait. 

Demand. — These horses are used in large numbers on the streets of 
foreign (especially English) cities to draw the omnibuses that are a 
common means of transportation. Some are employed in the trade 
of American cities demanding a light, stocky, active horse for mis- 
cellaneous purposes. He tills, to some extent, the call for a general- 
purpose horse, but he should not be confused with the horse quoted 
as "general purpose'" in market reports. The prices that bussers are 
bringing show not only the strength of the demand but the compara- 
tively small supply. 



Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate III. 




Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate IV. 




MARKET CLASSES <>F HOUSES. 21 



THE TUAM HORSE. 



Trammel's are very little different from bussers except that they 
are rather plainer, an inch or two smaller in size, and correspondingly 
lighter, but they should have as much weight as possible for their 
height. They are used on the tramways of European cities. 



ARTILLERY HOUSES. 



Contracts for horses for the army artillery service often give an 
outlet for small horses of the draft type weighing from 1,100 to 
1,250 pounds. They are not of any particular line of breeding, being 
often of the blood of the light breeds, but they must till very exact 
requirements to be acceptable. Two classes are generally recognized, 
one for light and the other for heavy artillery. Quite large numbers 
are purchased for use in the British army, a horse answering the 
description of a light parcel carter being taken for this purpose. 

The specitications herewith given for the United States artillery 
horse will be seen to be those of an expresser without the weight: 

(Article 1142, United States Army Regulations, 1901.) 

The artillery horse is required for quick draft purposes, and should move the car- 
riage ordinarily by weight thrown into the collar rather than by muscular exertion. 

The animal must he sound, without blemish or defect, well hied, of a kind dispo- 
sition, and free from vicious habits, a square trotter; well broken to harness, and 
gentle under the saddle, with easy mouth and gait, and with free, prompt action at 
the walk, trot, and gallop; and otherwise to conform to the following description: 

A i_ r eldinu r of uniform and hardy color, in good condition, from 151 to 16 hands 
high; weight of the lead horse not less than 1,050 pounds and that of the wheel 
horse not more than 1,200 pounds; from 5 to S years old, head and ears small, 
forehead broad, eyes large and prominent, vision perfect in every respect; chest 
full, broad, and deep; fore legs straight and standing well under; shoulders sufficiently 
broad to support the collar, but not too heavy; barrel Large and increasing from girth 
toward flank; withers elevated; hack short and straight, with broad, deep loins, short 
coupled with solid hind quarters; bocks well bent and under the horse; pasterns 
slanting, and feet sound and in good order. Long-legged, loose-jointed, long-bodied, 
and narrow-chested horses, as well as those which are restive, vicious, or too free in 
harness, or which do not, upon rigid inspection, meet the above requirements in 
every respect, will be rejected. 

HORSES FOR HARNESS AM) SADDLE. 

In taking up the class which, excluding cavalry horses, might be 
termed "pleasure horses." in contrast with the previous group, the 
classes which are used almost exclusively for business purposes, we 
come to the horse that brings by far the highest market prices when 
of a high degree of excellence, but whose breeding has been attended 
with more disastrous failures than any other; the horse that is the 
ennoblement of eveiy equine virtue when it approaches perfection 
and that is the embodiment of uselessness and insignificance when 
poor. More "tinkering" has been done with trotting, coach, and 



22 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

Thoroughbred blood than with any other, and it is safe to state that 
the unintelligent, indiscriminate, and improper use of sires of these 
light breeds has had more to do with the development of an unsightly 
mass of scrub horse stock than any other cause. 

Stand by the auction ring of any great horse market and observe 
closely the horses that fail to bring prices sufficient to cover cost of 
production. In the great majority of cases trotting blood predomi- 
nates if any breeding at all is noticeable Ask a dealer what is the 
breeding, if any, of most of the large numbers of the unclassified 
horses on the market, his answer will be: "'Trotting and coach blood." 
This is not because draft blood is more valuable or that the blood of 
the light breeds is not wanted, for the great cry of the market at 
present is that good drivers and saddlers are extremely scarce. It is 
because performance and style are much more difficult to acquire in 
breeding than size and weight. It is because men with a fascination 
for the race track attempt to produce trotters without the slightest 
regard for nature's laws, and no disappointment or failure seems suf- 
ficient to bring them to realize their folly. Breeding to a trotter with- 
out system and study, but only in the hope of getting a speedy foal as 
a possibility or an accident, is "playing with tire." The breeding of 
light horses requires not only a considerable amount of capital, but 
demands a knowledge of horses of the very highest order. It necessi- 
tates concentration of effort and years of waiting and planning. It is 
not every man that brings such qualities to bear when he takes a 
1,600-pound draft mare to a 1,200-pound harness or saddle stallion, 
and it is largely because of this, and not on account of the breeds 
themselves, that so many poor horses are forced on the market. 

A high-class roadster, coacher, or saddler is by far the most difficult 
horse to produce that the market calls for. In addition to careful 
plans of breeding and high individual excellence in the resulting 
progeny, a course of handling, mannering, and training must be pur- 
sued before the horse will figure as a really marketable animal. 

These facts must be thoroughly understood if a man would breed 
light horses for market. 

Three pretty well-defined classes, each with several subclasses of more 
or less distinct demarcation, make up this type. Speaking of the group 
as a whole, we find that all the virtues of which a horse is possessed 
must be found in this animal. The higher grades must be perfectly 
sound in wind and limb, free from blemishes of any kind, and extremely 
stylish in appearance. Disposition and education are very important; 
the uses for which he is intended and the conditions surrounding him 
require that he be kind, gentle, cool-headed in emergencies, and well 
mannered, yet full of spirit and energy. 



MARKET (LASSES (>F HOUSES. 23 



Roadsters. 

Sizt and weight. — The typical roadster stands from 15.1 to 15.3 
hands high and weighs from 950 to 1,150 pounds. 

Conformation. -We note now a very radical difference from the 
heavy horse. The roadster is more upstanding-, not so wide, and 
entirely lacks the massiveness of the drafter, but is deep of chest and 
middle. In extremes of roadster form, especially when in racing 
condition, there is a prominent appearance of angularity that, though 
not unpleasing, is a sharp contrast both to the form of the drafter 
and, as will be shown later, to that of the coacher. 

It is highly essential that feet and legs be not only sound, but of 
that collect conformation that will prevent unsoundness to the greatest 
possible extent. The pasterns should be sloping and strong, and the 
shoulder deep and sloping and extending well into the back. The 
withers are high and sharp, the back strongly muscled, short, and 
closely coupled, and the hind quarters long and heavily muscled. The 
bones from elbow point to knee (forearm) and from stifle to hock (leg) 
should be nearly twice as long as the cannon bones in their respective 
limbs, thus giving long leverage and muscles that are long, and there- 
fore quick to respond, and placing the fulcrums of these levers close 
to the ground, giving strength, steadiness, and poise. The neck should 
be of medium length ' to long, smoothly joined to the shoulder, and 
clearly defined, with a clean-cut throatlatch. The head should be tine 
and clean-cut. with an erect, neat, medium-sized ear, a full, clear eye 
and full, good-sized nostrils. Stamina is an essential of this class, 
and, as an indication, a high degree of quality will be looked for. 

Action. — There are two opinions prevalent in the market regarding 
the trotting action of a roadster. One places more emphasis on its 
approach to the extremes of coach action, while the other regards 
moderately high action as essential, but does not cany it to the point 
where speed is sacrificed. This latter idea carried out will develop 
the long, reachy action that tends to increased speed; it will develop 
a class of horses that will closely approach the true trotter and will at 
the same time be less wearing on the horse. The former will branch 
off in an entirely different direction, with the coach horse as its ulti- 
mate end. and, if much speed is also present, will entail a severe 
strain on the horse. In other words, as between action and speed in 
a roadster at the trot, some will place more importance on action, 
while others will seek to develop speed, and will buy accordingly. As 
a roadster, strictly speaking, is a horse whose purpose is to draw a 

'It in questioned by good judges and expert buyers whether it is possible to get a 
neck too long in a horse of any class. 



24 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

light rig on the road at a fairly high rate of speed for a considerable 
length of time, the latter idea is technically more nearly correct. All- 
around and not extreme action is desired. It must be prompt, straight, 
and Motionless, whether at the trot, the pace, or the walk. 

Demand. — Roadsters are in demand for city use or country use, 
and for any purpose where a horse is wanted for fast driving to a light 
road wagon or run-about. 

The Standard-bred horse. 

Size and weight. — The Standard bred trotter or pacer is the horse of 
the foregoing class more highly specialized and always eligible to reg- 
istry in the trotting register. 

Conformation. — This shows the extreme of speed production, and 
is the result of years of breeding for the sole purpose of increased 
speed. It is the roadster type carried to the farthest known limit. 
A better description of the type was never made than the one com- 
paring the conformation to that of the greyhound. 

Action. — The sole purpose of action in the Standard-bred horse is 
for the development of the greatest speed with the least possible 
expenditure of energy. The most important essentials are straight- 
ness, smoothness, and reach. 

Demand. — Eligible trotters and pacers are in demand for racing 
purposes, both amateur and professional, and for the breeding stud. 

COACIIERS. 

The connection between the coach horse and the roadster is extremely 
close, the differences between the two groups being chiefly those of 
conformation and action. 

Coach horses. 

Size and weight. — A typical coach horse stands 15.2 to 16 hands 
and weighs from 1.100 to 1,250 pounds. 

Conformation.— A eoacher is considerably heavier, smoother, and 
more compact than a roadster. The conditions of his work, of course, 
require soundness as an absolute essential. His legs are clean cut 
and well muscled, with sloping pasterns and shoulders; the back 
short, closely coupled to the hind quarters, and smoothly muscled. 
The hind quarters are well packed with muscle, smooth, and rounded, 
not straight and angular as in the roadster. A smooth, well-tilled, 
evenly rounded quarter is regarded with much favor. The tail should 
be .set well up and carried high. In the shoulders the same points of 
smoothness and lack of angularity are required. The withers should 
be high and thin, the neck smoothly joined to the shoulders, long 
and clean, with a full crest, the head tine and of medium size, with 
tine ears, a full, clear eye, and large open nostrils. 



Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate V. 




Julletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate VI. 




Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate VII. 



§ : 



„ > - 



S 33 g 



& o 

/ o 

- o 

r- O 




Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate VI 




MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 25 

Quality is as important in the coacher as in the roadster, and for 
similar reasons. 

Action. —Conformation and action are absolutely essential to a coach 
horse and to each other; that is, a horse can not lav claim to merit as 
a coacher unless he has both of these qualifications. Proper confor- 
mation should first he present, for then the animal may be trained to 
act fairly well, but if a tine actor is rough and " weedy" in make up 
no amount of feeding and care can give him form and style. 

In discussing the coach action the necessity for the legs to be 
moved straight and true is perhaps the first thing to be considered, for 
the extreme flexing of the legs, especially at the knees, makes it all the 
more difficult for the horse to move them in a straight line, and thus 
increases the danger of injury to himself by interfering, to say 
nothing of the unsightliness of faulty action. The fore legs are flexed 
as high as possible and the feet extended with a sort of rotary motion 
that is very different from the long reach of the roadster. 

The most difficult action to acquire is at the hocks. That of the 
knees may be developed by training and shoeing, but high, elastic 
hock action is well-nigh a hopeless proposition unless bred in the 
horse, it may be easily inferred that it is far less common than 
first-rate knee action. The hocks should be flexed without any devi- 
ation from a straight line, the feet carried in much the same manner 
as in front and placed directly in front of their former positions, 
with as little jar as possible. At all times a coacher must "keep his 
legs under him. 1 '' He does not extend himself as a roadster; there is 
not the long reach in front nor the swing behind. 

A moderate degree of speed always gives added value to a coach 
horse, but much speed is not only not absolutely necessary, but is, 
according to the nature of things, usually out of the question. Much 
of the energy of the horse's effort is expended in lifting his feet as high 
as possible, and the combination of this efl'ort with that of speed-making 
reach is asking too much of a horse, as it entails so great an amount 
of wear on the animal organism that it would soon give way. 

While a coacher must be thoroughly sound, he is not required to 
have the great speed powers or endurance of the roadster. Short dis- 
tances onlyare expected of him at a rate of from 6 to 10 miles an hour. 

Demand. — The demand for a stylish animal for city driving takes 
all the available horses that come to the market. Some are exported, 
but the foreign demand has comparatively little effect on this class. 
The demand from the American cities is strong, the only complaint 
being that the right kind of horses are extremely difficult to find. 

Cobs. 

Size and weight. — A typical cob stands about 15.1 hands and weighs 
from 1,000 to 1.050 pounds. 



26 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

( Conformation. If anything, the cot) is more compact and smoother 
than a coacher, and on somewhat shorter legs. He shows the highest 
possible amount of style and should be a horse of much beauty. w *He 
is a nice, flashy, trappy-going little coach horse." 

Action. — In action a cob has the highest development of any of the 
coachers, and has. especially, that sharp, snappy quality that horse- 
men call " trappy/" 

Demand. — Cobs supply the same class of trade as the full-sized 
coachers, and are used for the lighter grades of work to which a coacher 
may be put. 

SADDLERS. 

The saddle horse. 

Size and weight. — A saddler will vary considerably in the charac- 
teristics of size and weight, depending on the character of the work 
for which he is intended and the amount of weight he is to carry. As 
a general rule, a range of from 15.1 to 15.3 in height and from 1,000- 
to 1,150 pounds in weight will describe this pretty accurately. 

A horse of 15.1 hands height and L,000 pounds weight makes what is 

called a " ladies* saddler; *' or if a walk, trot, and canter horse, a il ladies' 

hack:" but for heavier riders the larger animals naturally are required, 

f some men needing a horse standing over 16 hands and weighing 1,200 

pounds or even more. 

Conformation. — A typical saddler does not differ in form in any 
marked degree from other light horses. Many good saddlers come 
direct from harness stock. The principal requirements that are to a 
certain extent peculiar to this class are: (1) Sloping pasterns and 
shoulders; :i straight pastern and shoulder is an added objectionable 
feature in a saddle horse, for it is almost certain to make him a hard 
rider. (2) Moderately high and narrow withers, for the same reason; 
the height of the withers above the hind quarters should not be exag- 
gerated — not more than an inch. The extension of the shoulder into 
the back and the shortness and compactness of coupling are extremely 
important. 

The saddler shows, perhaps, more style than any other class of 
horses. He should have a high degree of quality, showing in each 
detail a ribbon-like smoothness from end to end. Shoulders should 
be smooth and even, and hind quarters well rounded and smooth. 
Rotundity of body is a marked feature. He is usually somewhat 
upstanding, and should have a high-set, smartly carried head and tail. 
An ideal saddler will naturally have a head that shows an unusual dis- 
position and high intelligence, for the intimate relation between a horse 
and his rider demands thinking ability on both sides. 

Action. — Two styles of a saddle action are demanded— the walk, 
trot, and canter action, and the gaits of the American Saddle Horse 



MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 27 

Breeders' Association — the walk, trot, canter, rack, and running walk, 
fox trot, or slow pace. Any one of the last three of the second 
style is acceptable to breeders of this type, but the first four must 
always he present. The dictates of fashion have a good deal to do 
with the market demands for gaits. Just at present a horse with 
walk, trot, and canter only is somewhat preferred, hut the American 
saddle horse will always he in demand as a very useful animal, and will 
be valuable in the production of saddlers, for training can bring out 
the desired action, and for intelligence and extreme style no breed will 
surpass him. Saddle action must, first of all. be sure. A horse inclined 
to stumble is dangerous. Following this we look for snap, moderate 
height, and particularly straightness and evenness in all gaits. 

Demand. — Saddlers are in demand for both city and country trade, 
and are by no means equal to the demand. 

Hunters. 

Size dud weight.- r-The class of horses known as hunters is divided 
into "light"' and "heavy" hunters; the former carrying ladies and 
light-weight men, and the latter able to take men of a weight up to 
200 pounds. Naturally there will he many variations between these 
two classes, the requirements of each rider indicating the weight of 
his mount. A range of from 15.2 hands, with a weight of 1,100 
pounds, to 16.2 hands, weighing 1,200 or L.!^5() pounds, would be a 
fair approximation. 

( f onformation. A typical hunter shows a conformation of a rather 
rangy order, but not loosely built, standing pretty well from the 
ground with legs of much bone, depending on the weight he is to 
carry. The shoulder should he deep; the body deep and full chested; 
"short above and long below," the barrel with a good development, 
but not paunchy well built in every particular to he a ground gainer. 
Too much muscularity can hardly be present; the hind quarters should 
he especially long and deeply muscled. Thick necks are avoided; 
rather a thin long neck with a good-sized intelligent head is preferred. 

The hunter must show plenty of quality; stamina is absolutely nec- 
essary for work such as he is to perform. His head must show that 
high degree of intelligence and fearlessness that insure the confidence 
of his rider. 

. {.ctwn. -The most desirable feature in the motive power of a hunter 
is his jumping ability. Not only must there be the capacity to clear 
any reasonable obstacle that presents itself, 1 but this must be done 
gracefully and willingly. Of course, a straight, smooth, easy move- 
ment is always necessary. Speed adds much to the value of a hunter, 
especially it his rider has ambitions to gratify. 

lr The usual height of the fences hunted over ranges from .'! to 4 feet. 



28 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

Demand. — This class of horses is in ready demand by persons of 
means who enjoy the sport of following the hounds. The same con- 
dition presents itself that is found in other classes of light horses, 
namely, that the price of a suitable animal will always be a long one. 
Riding to hounds is gaining in popularity in this country and is an 
influential force in the development of the horse market. 

The Thoroughbred. 

The breeding of Thoroughbreds is rapidly assuming large propor- 
tions. Many of the sales that have been held during the past year 
have averaged $1,000, even for yearlings, and fabulous sums have 
been paid for mature breeding animals, the large prices brought by 
aged mares showing the strong demand that exists. The Thorough- 
bred bears to some extent the same relation to the hunter that the 
Standard-bred horse does to the roadster; that is, he is largely the- 
producer of the hunter, the principal difference being that the hunter 
usually lacks the speed of a racer, and is not recorded in the stud- 
book. 

Polo pou its. 

The three essentials of a polo pony are (1) weight carrying ability, 
with small size. (2) agility, and (3) speed. 

Size a ml weight. —The maximum height is 14.2 hands. The weight 
for such a height will be about 850 pounds. 

( '(information. — Good bone and compact conformation are requisite, 
with as much muscle as possible. " Get quarters on him like a cart 
horse, if you can," said a polo authority. Short cannon bones, espe- 
cially in the hind legs, give the horse a control of himself that enables 
him to turn with speed and agility. Perfect soundness and extreme 
quality are indispensable, for the strain of the game and the demands 
made on a pony's endurance are usually severe. 

Intelligence <ni<l training. — Courage and intelligence are prime 
requisites with a polo pony. Quickness of sight and a keen enjoy- 
ment of the game make an animal still more valuable. Along this 
line it must be remembered thit all ponies will not learn the game. 
Horses are differently constituted in this respect, and such things 
must be expected. 

Action. — The principal requirement in action is agility. The pony 
must always have himself well under control, with the ability to come 
to a dead stop almost instantly from a run, and the quickness that 
enables him to "turn on a dollar,' 1 as a Westerner puts it. Speed is 
also necessary, but agility first of all. 

Demand. — Like the preceding class, the growth of a fascinating 
sport is rapidly opening up a market for another class of horses, and, 
like the hunters, polo ponies bring long prices when suitable for such 



Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate IX. 




By courtesy of Rider and Driver. 



A typical Hunter. 

Observe the rangy conformation, and abundance of muscle and bone that arc characteristic 

of this class of horses. 



Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate X. 




By courtesy of Horse Show Monthly. 

A good Type of Polo Pony. 
This pony was western bred. 



MARKET CLASSES <>F HORSES. 29 

work, and are sound. Most players have four or five horses constantly 
on hand, and some have twenty or thirty in their stables. 

It is an interesting fact that no better polo ponies are found in the 
United States than Western "cow ponies' 1 that are sound and well 
set up, with a few months' education in the rudiments of the game as 
a finishing school. 

('a nil fii horses. 

Troopers. -At uncertain intervals the market calls for horses to 
fill contracts with army authorities. The demand is not exceedingly 
large at any time and at no time is it steady. As a general rule, these 
horses are selected from the various classes of light horses. Foreign 
governments have executed orders to some extent for army stock, most 
horses that are regularly bought for this purpose going to England; 
and within the past two years immense numbers of animals have been 
purchased by British agents for use in South Africa, swelling the 
exports last year by over 30,000. Under no circumstances, however, 
can the army demand be looked upon as of such character as to affect 
the market steadily. 

The best horses bought for army purposes "in this country are for 
the United States Army, those bought for home use hy the British 
army next, and the stock for South Africa fall to the bottom of the 
scale. The United States Army demands a practically sound and 
unblemished horse. The specifications for the cavalry horse follow: 

(Article 1142, United States Army regulations, 1901.) 

The cavalry horse must be sound and well bred; gentle under the saddle; free from 
vicious habits; with free and prompt action at the walk, trot, and gallop; without 
blemish or defect; of a kind disposition; with easy mouth and gait; and otherwise 
to conform to the following description: 

A gelding of uniform and hardy color; in good condition; from 15 1 , to 16 hands 
high; weight not less than 950 nor more than 1,150 pounds; from four to eight years 
old; head and ears small; forehead broad; eyes large and prominent; vision perfect 
in every respect; shoulders long and sloping well back; chest full, broad, and deep; 
fore legs straight and standing well under; barrel large and increasing from girth 
toward tiank; withers elevated; back short and straight; loins and haunches broad 
and muscular; hocks well bent and under the horse; pasterns slanting, and feet 
small and sound. 

Each horse will be subjected to a rigid inspection, and any animal that does not 
meet the above requirements in every respect must be rejected. 

A horse under five years old should not be accepted unless a specially tine, well- 
developed animal. 

MINOR CLASSES. 

Strictly speaking, the horses mentioned below are not in market 
demand. They sell, however, if the price is low enough, and follow 
the natural result of such a condition of being dangerously near a 
losing investment to the seller. 



30 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



GENERAL-PURPOSE HORSES. 



A very large proportion of the horses on the market are what are 
known in stock yards reports and market quotations as "general pur- 
pose" animals. They are horses without any particular type, embrac- 
ing misfits of all kinds of breeding, though not scrubs, as a rule, and 
usually being of fair to good quality without those characteristics that 
lit a horse for a market class. In many cases they ma} T be serviceably 
sound — perhaps so in the majority of instances. 

Such animals are used, as the name designates, for anything and 
everything, but the demand is not well defined, and the supply far too 
large to make this kind of horse a feature of the market other than 
by its numbers. The average prices for them are next to the lowest 
quoted. 

SiilTHERX HORSES. 

At most of the Western markets, particularly those on the Missouri 
River and at St. Louis, there exists a good demand, strongest in the 
spring of the year, for a rather inferior grade of horses for the 
Southern trade. They range in quality from very inferior to very 
"nice" animals. They comprise mainly an assortment of practically 
unclassed horses, but as much of the roadster type as any. Many 
are sold as drivers, some as saddlers, the best grades usually going to 
Virginia. Prices range from $5 to $200. 

PI, COS AND SCRUBS. 

These wrecks of horseflesh seem out of place in a discussion of mar- 
ket classes of horses. Plugs are usually those animals that have come 
back from final sale after being worn out by long years of work. 
Scrubs are described by the name. 

THE MARKET FOR RANGE HORSES. 

This phase of the horse market is somewhat difficult to treat. 
When animals are sold on the market as "range horses," it is gener- 
ally understood that they are unbroken branded horses brought in and 
sold in carload lots, usually going to the country to be broken, and 
finally resold as finished horses. On the other hand, if range men 
are equipped to break their young stock thoroughly and do not brand 
them, such horses sell as natives, and strictly on their merits. 

While the prejudice against a branded horse is not so strong as for- 
merly, a brand still has a very cooling effect on the enthusiasm of a 
prospective buyer. The memory of the evil disposition of the old 
horses of this country and the frequently exaggerated stories of its 
presence to-day are constantly called to the attention of the public. 
However, it is safe to state that the character and disposition of the 
range horse and his individuality are being greatly improved by the 
enlightened policy of the more progressive ranchmen. His temper is 



Bulletin No. 37, B. A. I. 



Plate XI. 




MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 31 

being bettered by closer communication with man and better methods 
of handling, and the standard of breeding is being raised by the use of 
large numbers of purebred sires that have been brought in from the 
Eastern States and Europe. At the same time the wonderful quality 
and endurance of the native stock have been retained, and, however we 
mav look upon the range horse personally, we must admit that the 
foundation is there for a very excellent horse stock. The systematic 
experimenting that has been done by shipping rangers East as young- 
sters has been very successful, though grades of only average quality 
were used. 

In speaking favorably of the range horse, the grades which are 
usually the offspring of purebred sires are meant. These represent 
what the range is able to do in producing horses, and show its possi- 
bilities in the best light, which is no more than fair. With the average 
old-time ranger — the cayuse, mustang, or Indian pony — only excep- 
tional individuals are worthy of attention. In the main, there is no 
meaner kind of equine to be found than what is known in different 
localities under one or another of these names. 

It can not be said that even a large part of the range horses sold 
on the Western markets show much evidence of breeding. The work 
of improvement is yet in its primary stages. 

The rangers divide into three fairly well-defined classes — ponies, 
saddlers and drivers, and chunks. 



These are the descendants of the ancient stock that is known by the 
various names of cayuse. Indian pony, mustang, etc. They stand up 
to 14.2 hands, weighing up to 750 or 900 pounds. Some of them are 
horses of quality, endurance, and intelligence, and make good riding- 
animals. 

These horses are very useful for herding cattle, often showing an 
intelligence and agility that is wonderful and frequently disconcerting 
to the rider. They also furnish some of the best material for polo 
work that can be found, especially when mares of good type are 
crossed with small Thoroughbred sires. However, the cow pony that 
will make a good polo pony is not easily found. It is the exception, 
not the rule, that satisfies the buyer and brings the long prices. In 
such instances, the pony would not go on the market under the same 
conditions as the ordinary ranger. He is the exception, but an 
exception that serves a valuable purpose for illustrating the possibili- 
ties of the best types of range stock. 

SADDLERS AND DRIVERS. 

These horses are the first as a range class that may show breeding. 
The grades of coach. Standard-bred, and Thoroughbred sires will come 



32 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

under this head. They could be described us horses standing from 
14.2 to 15.2 hands and weighing from 900 to 1,100 pounds, with an 
occasional good one of larger size. 



These usually embrace the draft grades, standing 15 hands and up, 
and weighing fiom 1,100 to 1,400 pounds. Extra individuals often 
weigh over 1,500 pounds. 

DEMAND. 

The larger number of range horses normally rind their final place of 
consumption on farms and in small towns. The British Government 
has bought thousands of them, and the United States Army is often 
supplied with cavalry horses from these sources. Quite often branded 
horses will be found in the export stables. 

O 



Lb Fe '07 



